Boot-treeing machine



(No Model.) I 2 Sheefi-Sheet. 1. C. W. CLARK. BOOT TREEING MACHINE.

No.534,856. Patented Feb. 26, 1895.

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2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. W. CLARK. BOOT TREEINGMAGHINE.

Patented Feb. 26

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CHESTER W. CLARK, OF MISHAWAKA, INDIANA.

BOOT-TREEING MACHlNE.

SEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 534,856, dated February 26, 1895.

Application filed August 29, 1894. Serial No. 521.615- (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER W. CLARK, of Mishawaka, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boot-'lreeing Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved boot treeing machine, especially designed for use in the manufacture of wool boots, and like articles which are manufactured by stretching rough blanks into shape on formers or trees.

The principal objects of the machine are, first, to provide means for automatically holding the tree while shaping the blank; second, to enable the calf portion of the blank to be stretched, while secured upon the tree, and the latter allowed to expand without the blank adhering thereto, which is at present the cause of frequent rupture of the blanks duringthe process of forming or treeing them; third, to provide means for automatically expanding the tree; fourth, to arrange the various operative parts so that the amount of gripping and pressure can be. controlled, regulated and adjusted at the will of the operator, and one machine can be employed for many sizes of trees, and, fifth, to improve the construction of the tree, and make itselflocking when expanded, so that it can be removed from the machine finger or with the shaped blank thereon, to the drying rooms, it being provided with a jointed lever to operate the foot that will permit the heel and back of the leg to drop away from the boot first when the boot is untreed.

The invention therefore consists in means for accomplishing these various objects and combinations of such means as are set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the machine and tree in position to receive a blank, the tree being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a similar view after the tree has been expanded and the wool blank thereby given the proper shape. Figs. 3 and& are detail views partly in section, of the tree, closed and expanded.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view of the tree Hi g. 6 is a transverse see- Fig.7 isadetail movement thereof.

Pivoted by its lower end to the side of standard A is a tree holder or clamp bar C, the upper end of which is about a bootleg length below plate B, and is provided with a vertical extension 0, at the base of which is a notch 0 adapted to engage the tree as hereinafter described. The upper end of clamp bar C can move slightly toward and from the upright and itis secured in position by means of a link D attached thereto below the finger and connecting it to a short lever 01, which is pivoted at one end to the upright, and its other end is connected by a link--rod d to a substantially horizontal foot lever E which is fulcrumed on a bolt secured to the upright, near the base. One end of leverE is weighted as shown, so that normally the clamp bar is swung slightly away from the upright.

Pivoted to the base beside upright A is an upstanding bar F, whose upper end is somewhat above the upper end of clamp bar 0. Bar F is upheld, and swung toward and from the standard, by means of a link connecting said bar F to a lever f pivoted to the standard, the pivoted end of lever f being bent almost at right angles to its main portion and link f being connected thereto near the bend, so that when the outer end of lever f is depressed it will draw the bar F toward the standard with great power, as is evident from the drawings.

To the upper end of bar F, at one side thereof, is attached a calf-clamp G. See Fig. 6. This clamp is formed of two substantially semi-circular parts 9 hinged together vertically, so that they can adjust themselves to different widths of trees, and each is provided with a laterally projecting trunnion g on its outer edge, which trunnions engage openings in a boxing g secured to the bar F; the open concave side of the clamp being toward the upright, as shown.

H designates the push-bar for spreading the tree. As shown it is made in two parts adjustably secured together by means of slots and bolts for the purpose of lengthening or shortening it according to the size of tree being used. The lower end of the push-bar is pivoted to lever E on the side opposite the connection of rod cl thereto so that the clampbarC will be drawn toward the standard simultaneously with the upward movement of the push-bar. The push-bar stands beside and almost parallel with bar F, and is loosely confined thereto and guided by means of a loop 71, attached to bar F as shown, which prevents lateral play of the push-bar but permits a slight amount of swinging movement edgewise.

The remaining element of the machine is a shield-plate I to prevent the calf portion of the felt-blank adhering to the tree during the expansion thereof. This consists of a thin metallic plate, curved to fit the calf portion of the tree, centrally and vertically slotted as at I to admit the push bar H to engage the movable part of the tree. This shield is adapted to be used with any number of trees, and is laterally flexible or yielding to accommodate itself to different thicknesses of trees. This shield-plate has a tang t' on its lower end, by which it is pivotally connected to the upper end of a supporting rod J by a boltj, below which is a second bolt or rivet 7' that passes through a slot i in the tang, which thereby regulates and limits the vibratory movement of the shield-plate on rod J.

The lower end of rod J is pivoted to a lever K fulcrumed on a bolt secured to the standard, and weighted on one end so as to normally hold the rod and shield in their highest position, 7 6., opposite the finger O on clamp bar 0, and between it and clamp G. The spring 70 connected to said lever K and rod J is employed to bring the shield plateI against the calf of the tree when the lever K is at the highest point. The lever K is to withdraw the shield-plate I from between the boot and tree after the boot is treed.

The boot-tree which I preferably employ is constructed of three parts. The greave or shin portion L, and calf-and-heel portion L are of usual shape, and will give the proper contour to the leg of the boot. The foot portion M corresponds in contour to the instep and toe portion of the boot, and is pivoted to the upper end of part L (the tree being inverted). This portion M has a rearwardly extending shank m, which has a knuckle joint connection with a link Z pivoted in part L near the heel.

A link N is connected to the lower end of shin piece L by a pin secured to the latter and re-extending through a short slot in the former, so that the link has aslight longitudinal play on the shin piece. The slotted end of the link is rounded to fit in and press against a rounded recess L on the shin piece, and is also. provided with a tooth N which will ride against the walls of the recess, until the link assumes a position about at right angles to the shin piece when the tooth engages a shoulder L When the tree is closed part L abuts against part L, and extends below the latter, and the part M is turned up almost in line with the part L, thus facilitating the slipping of the blanks thereon. When the part L is pushed upward, part L being held stationary, link N causes its lower end to gradually separate from part L. The knuckle joint connection between parts L and M will allow the upper end of the former to rise slightly and move away from the part L also, but when the knuckle joint locks, then the further upward movement of part L causes part M to turn down until it assumes the position indicated in Fig. 2, (thus giving the proper boot-shape to the blank thereon,) and as soon as tooth N, engages shoulder L the tree is locked in this extended boot shape condition.

The link N is placed a little to one side of the center of part L so as not to interfere with finger O, when the tree is slipped on clamp bar 0, and part L has an internal flange L adapted to engage notch c, as indicated in Fig. 2.

In using the machine the tree is placed thereon, as indicated in Fig. 1, by slipping the lower end of shin portion L over finger C and flange L into notch c, the tree being closed so that part M is almost in line with the shin portion, and the shield-plate I pressing close against the part L as shown. The felt blank (which is roughly stocking-shaped) is then slipped over the tree and shield plate, as far as it will go inclosing both. Leverf is then depressed causing clamp G to grasp the blank and hold it firmly between its jaws and the shield-plate on the tree. Simultaneously the end or push rod is brought beneath the part L of the tree. Then by depressing lever E the push rod is forced upward against part L of the tree which part will be thrown upward and away from the shin piece L and the foot of the boot will be extended and the heel thrown away from the sole, and the stretch of the material will form the concave of the foot between the heel and sole. At the same time the clamp bar will be drawn toward the standard and hold the part L of the tree firmly in place, and the flange L engaging notch c prevents part L rising with part L or the tree being forced out of the machine.

When the tree is fully extended it is automatically locked by the engagement of tooth N with shoulder L as described. The lever f is then raised throwing back bar F and releasing clamp G. Then lever E is released and lever K depressed so that the shield plate is drawn from between felt and tree,

and the tree then lifted off with the shaped blank and set away to dry, while another tree is placed thereon and the operation repeated for shaping another blank.

The employment of a shield plate in connection with the clamp to hold the boot blank stationary while the tree is being expanded, is one of the main features of the invention, for without such a device, the felt would adhere to the tree in such a manner as to render its even and proper extension almost impossible; but by using the shield plate the blank is kept stationary and a smooth surface is provided for the calf portion of the tree to move against and allows the blank to expand with the tree and the boot to be formed with comparatively small power and in a rapid manner.

The gripping and holding of the shin piece by the clamp bar as described is important, as the tree is removably set upon this clamp bar and is held thereby not only firmly against the standard but against the upward thrust of the bar H.

The employment of means for holding one portion of the tree stationary, and for moving the other part mechanically, substantially as described, is also an important improve ment.

WVhen not arranged to be operated by mechanical power (as it could easily be done) two men are employed with each machine, to obtain best service therefrom. One regulates the working of the machine, and the other simply removes from a machine the expanded blanks and trees, and replaces unexpanded trees and blanks thereon.

In this machine, constructed as described, the proper pressure and power exerted by the various clamps, levers, dad, can be adjusted, controlled, and regulated at the will of the operator, according to the size and quality of the blanks being operated upon.

I/Vhile I have described one novel form of tree, others could be, and have been, used and the machine is capable of being modified to suit trees of various kinds and shapes, and therefore I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is r 1. The combination in a treeing machine, of means for holding and expanding the tree, with an independently movable shield-plate interposed between a portion of the tree and the blank thereon, during the expanding of the tree and blank substantially as described.

2. The combination with a tree holding and expanding mechanism, substantially as described, of an independently movable shield plate and a clamp for holding the blank on the tree during the expansion thereof, substantially as described.

3. The combination in a treeing machine of a tree holder, a push rod for expanding the tree; and an adjustable shield plate, substantially as specified.

4. The combination in a treeing machine, of a tree holder, a push rod for expanding the tree, an independently movable shield plate, and a clamp, substantially as specified.

5. The combination with a tree-holder and expander, of an. expansible tree, and an independently adjustable shield-plate interposed between the tree and blank during the expansion thereofiand a clamp, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for expanding collapsible boot trees and combined with the operative mechanism of the same, the clamp and adjustable shield arranged to hold the blank on the tree independent of the latter as set forth.

7. In a machine for treeing wool boots, the combination of a tree and expanding devices therefor, with an independently adjustable relatively stationary shield plate interposed between the tree and boot to prevent the back of the boot leg moving up with the tree, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine for treeing wool boots,the combination of a tree, and expanding mechanism therefor, with an independently ad'- justable shield plate operated between the boot and tree for the purpose set forth.

9. In a boot treeing machine for wool boots, the combination of a tree, and its expanding devices, with an independently adjustable shield plate that is removed from between the tree and boot after the latter is treed, for the loo purpose set forth.

10. In a machine for treeing wool boots the combination of a tree and expanding device therefor; with a movable shield plate, and a clamp independent of the shield plate for I05 holding the boot on the tree, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a boot treeing machine, the combina tion of devices for holding detachable trees, devices for expanding the tree while held and 1 io means for holding the blanks on the tree with a shield plate secured to the machine and adapted to accommodate itself to various sized trees, and be interposed between the tree and. blank clamp, substantially as described.

12. The combination of the standard with the tree holding clamp bar having a notch and finger, substantially as described, and the lever for moving said bar, the tree, and means for expanding the tree, substantially as de- [20 scribed.

13. The combination of the standard, and means for detachably holding a tree thereto; with the adjustable clamp bar and the treeexpanding push bar beside said clamp-bar, I25 and means for operating said bars, substantially as described.

l t. The combination with tree-holding devices, and tree, of the shield plate, the clampbar co-operating with said shield plate, and 1 0 the push-bar, and means for operating said clamp bar, shield, and push bar, substantially as specified.

15. The self adjusting clamp G formed of the similar hinged portions g having trunnions and arranged to clamp varying sizes of trees, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination in a tree composed of the shin portion L, the combined calf and heel portion, L and the foot portion M, the knuckle joint connecting the foot and heel portions, and the link connecting the top ends of the portion L, L, substantially as described.

17. The herein described tree, consisting of the shin and calf portions L L, the locking link N constructed substantially as described connecting the lower 'ends thereof, the foot portion pivoted on the upper end of part L and the knuckle-jointed link connecting it with the rear portion, substantially as set forth.

18. In a tree the combination of the shin part L, the calf and heel part L, the link N connecting the lower ends thereof having a tooth adapted to engage a shoulder on part L and lock the tree in extended position; the foot portion M pivoted on the upper end of part L having an inwardly extending shank and the link-knuckle jointed to said shank and pivoted to the upper end of part L, all substantially as described.

19. In a machine for operating expanding boot trees, a standard to support the operative mechanism, combined with the clamp bar 0, to support the tree, the push rod H, to expand the tree and means for operating these, substantially as described.

20. The clamp bar pivoted to the standard and provided at its free end with a seat for the edge of the shin piece of the tree and finger projecting within said shin piece, and means for operating said arm to force the shin piece against the standard as set forth.

21. The tree holder in combination with the clamp G the pivoted arm carrying the same, the independently adjustable shield I clamp and shield together.

22. The self adjusting clamp G, composed of a holder, and two laterally movable curved plates hinged together and pivotally suspended in said holder, substantially as set forth.

23. The combination with the tree holding and expanding mechanism of the yielding shield plate adapted to be inserted between the tree and blank, the clamp for confining the blank against said shield plate, during the expansion of the tree, and means for withdrawing the shield plate from the blank while on the tree, substantially as set forth.

24. The combination of the standard, the curved plate on top thereof, the tree holding and clamping bar attached thereto; the swinging clamp mounted on an upright bar beside the standard, and levers and connections for operating said clamps; and the push rod and connections for expanding the tree, substantially as and for the purpose described.

25. The combination of the standard,the curved plate on top thereof, the tree holding and clamping bar attached thereto; theswinging clamp mounted on an upright bar beside the standard, and levers and connections for operating said clamps; and the push rod and connections for expanding the tree, and the shield plate interposed between the swinging clamp and tree, and mechanism for adjusting said shield-plate, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

26. In a machine for treeing wool boots a tree holder having a finger that extends up- Ward behind the leg front to support the tree While it is in the machine, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHESTER W. CLARK.

Witnesses:

JAMES DU SHANE, ROBERT W. BAsT. 

